Two things: on Givani Smith and Alec Regula

Of Red Wings-related note this afternoon:

  1. WXYZ’s Brad Galli spoke with Wings prospect Givani Smith regarding Smith’s belief that he’ll make the Red Wings’ roster…

2. And HometownLife.com’s Marty Budner penned an article about Metro Detroit native Alec Regula’s hopes that will don his hometown team’s jersey in a couple of seasons:

The 17-year-old former Cranbrook Kingswood standout was Detroit’s third-round pick — 67th overall — in the recent NHL entry draft held in Dallas. The young hockey talent arrived at camp knowing he’s one Detroit’s “project” players and is intent to learn all that he can about what it takes to play at the professional level.

“Right now, this is just a good learning experience for me,” Regula said June 28 following his practice session with Team Lindsay at the underground Belfor Training Center at Little Caesars Arena. “This camp just makes me realize how much further I have to go and how much more work I have to do. I think, right now, I have a ways to go. I think the staff here looks at me as kind of a project.

“I’m big, lengthy and real young. I know I have a lot to improve on and I’m aware of all that,” he added. “But I think I really have a chance to make it and be an impact player. It’s really exciting.”

Regula has the size (6-foot-4), drive, right-handed shot and hockey IQ which makes him an intriguing prospect.

Regula’s most likely immediate destination is with the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, his last junior team. According to NHL guidelines, a player age 20 or under cannot go to an NHL affiliate if they don’t make the parent team.

Budner continues…

Update: And Budner posted a video of Regula skating at development camp:

 

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George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, when MLive hired me to work their SlapShots blog, and I joined Kukla's Korner in 2011 as The Malik Report. I'm starting The Malik Report as a stand-alone site, hoping that having my readers fund the website is indeed the way to go to build a better community and create better content.

2 thoughts on “Two things: on Givani Smith and Alec Regula”

  1. I’d love to see Smith actually get a shot to make the team. Signing no free agents the wings lineup could look something like:

    AA-Larkin-Mantha
    Abs-Z-Zadina
    Bert-Nielson-Nyq
    Rasmussen/Smith-Glen-Helm

    If the wings sign more than 1 free agent up front I doubt guys like Smith will get much of a sniff until someone gets hurt.

  2. I really hope Smith pans out, not only because we could use a power forward with a bit of scoring ability, but because he’s managed to handle himself quite well overall, in spite of some very unfair, toxic hatred expressed his way, while maintaining an agitating, physical game.

    But at this rate, even the forward prospects who are ahead of him in years of experience or pro experience, projected upside, etc, are looking pretty blocked by veterans, at least heading into the season.

    Rasmussen and Zadina

    Svech, Turgeon, Pope.

    Frk is still in the mix with the big club.

    If Z returns and one of Filppula and Vanek is signed, who gets a look – maybe Rasmussen because he’s have to return to junior?

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